MN will exist where Umno needs PAS, says analyst

 

Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar attending a Selangor PAS Aidilfitri celebration in May. He has said the two parties will cooperate in Selangor for the general election. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Umno and PAS will continue their relationship in the Muafakat Nasional pact, but only in certain states, according to a political analyst.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Umno still needed the support of PAS in states like Selangor, Kedah, and Terengganu.

“It will be very difficult for Umno alone to unseat Pakatan Harapan in Selangor,” Azmi told FMT in response to comments by Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar that Umno and PAS would firm up cooperation in the state for the next general election.

Azmi said MN could not be presumed to be “dead” merely because Umno had refused to work with PAS for the recent Melaka and Johor elections.

He said the refusal to cooperate was because Umno was already strong and formidable in those two states, while PAS had nothing to offer. That also explained why PAS was adamant about working with Umno in Johor and Melaka.

PAS contested under the Perikatan Nasional banner in Melaka and Johor but suffered major defeats, securing only one seat in Johor.

Last month PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party would continue maintaining good relations with Umno, while his deputy, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said MN remains intact unless Umno declares the dissolution of the alliance.

The pact formed between the two biggest Malay parties has come under scrutiny following  PAS’ decision to back the Perikatan Nasional coalition led by Muhyiddin Yassin.

Another analyst, Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya, said the best way to resolve the PAS-Umno relationship in MN is to let them choose whichever seats they wish to contest at GE15.

He said if Barisan Nasional succeeds in forming the federal government without PAS, the latter can act as a check and balance on the government. - FMT